Jim and Mrs.
Mayfield sat together--that is, he sat out on the end of a board, as
far away from her as he could get, and once when the wheel ran over a
stone he fell off.
"Oh," she cried, "you must be hurt."
He got up, with his jack-o'-lantern smile, dusted himself and said:
"I--I would fall for you any time, ma'm."
"But," she laughed, "I didn't want you to fall."
"Didn't you? Well, I beg yo' pardon, I thought you did."
Kintchin, who sat in front, ducked his head and chuckled.
"Oh, de folks up yere is de 'commerdatinist you eber seed. Da'll stand
up fur you ur fall down fur you ur do anythin' you pleases. Sorry I come
off an' furgot suthin'. Allus de way--man furgits whut he needs de
mos.'"
"Did you forget something, Kintchin?" Mrs. Mayfield inquired.
"Yas'm, come off an' furgot twenty-fi' cents dat I wanted to fetch wid
me. I owes er quarter ter er crap-shootin' nigger ober dar, an' when I
kain't pay him he gwine retch his han' up atter my wool. I doan want no
big nigger retchin' atter me, caze I ain't right well dis mawin'.
Pages:
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54